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Hello, my first post. My wife and I are moving to the Dallas area in May or June. So I just have a few questions. For starters, Do I have to shoot at a range? I haven't spent a lot of time in Texas, so I'm not sure if there is public land, but can a person just go out of the city limits and shoot? I don't mind a shooting range of course, just curious. Also where could I find a list of shooting ranges around Texas?

I'm moving from New Jersey but started shooting in Idaho. We would just go out of the city limits and pull off the road far enough. Later I lived in Washington state and would go shooting on National Forest land, where it is perfectly legal.

Thanks, Kevin

I guess another question I have is are there any ranges with memberships or do they all have daily fees? I've been browsing different ranges, on the internet, Elm Fork, Alpine Gun Range, the Garland Public Range and it seems they don't offer memberships? Are there any ranges perhaps within 50 or 75 miles of Dallas with a reasonably priced membership? I belonged to a range in Illinois for a couple of years, it was $110 per year. It was a 40 acre shooting range and everyone got a key. Very simple, open 365 days a year.

I don't know all the liabilities/legalities, but you are responsible for every bullet that leaves your gun...

Know your target and what is beyond it... I would be afraid to do this just "pulling off the road". We do go to my FIL's ranch and shoot, but we have a huge tree that was uprooted by Ike on a downhill slope with nothing but trees behind it to shoot into.

JMPHO. Welcome to Texas!

As always, a good starting resource is http://wheretoshoot.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Range fees vary depending on amenities (or lack thereof ) and other factors. If you know somebody with a large, private spread, that's awesome, but always be safe

Don't know where in the Dallas Area you are planning to be(it's a pretty big area!) but if you are north of Dallas, you might check out Red River Firearms in Sherman. They do have several levels of memberships--or range fees are by the day, not the hour.

To shoot out in the country, you either need to own land or know someone who owns land. You really can't just pull off the side of the road to shoot.

There are several ranges with memberships. Two offhand are DFW Gun Range and Target Master both have memberships. I am sure there are others.

Welcome to Texas.

For a place closer to the center of DFW, Great Southwest Gun Range in Main Street in Grand Prairie offers indoor rifle/pistol
lanes for a day rate and they offer memberships, as well.

Thank you all very much. I wondered about just shooting outside of the city limits. I think Texas does not have the DNR land that some states have like Arizona.

Thank you for the suggestions on other ranges with memberships.

KevinC wrote:Thank you all very much. I wondered about just shooting outside of the city limits. I think Texas does not have the DNR land that some states have like Arizona.

Thank you for the suggestions on other ranges with memberships.

Texas is a pretty big place but unlike the western states you mention, there are few National Forests in Texas and no BLM land to my knowledge. It is unlawful to shoot on USACE land out of hunting seasons.

As was mentioned above, you pretty much have to own the land and/or have the landowners' permission before you start shooting; otherwise, it's to the range/s.

On a brighter note, welcome to Texas and this forum. I made a few trips to New Jersey during construction of the WTC's back in the 60's and have never felt the urge to go back.

There are both public and private ranges in this area. Private ranges are very reasonable, public ranges are a "for profit" business so they are more expensive. Some public ranges have memberships that allow you to shoot at a reduced price. A lot depends on what area of Dallas you will locate. I am southeast of Dallas and shoot indoor in Garland and shoot outdoor at a private range in Terrell. If you are on the east or south side of Dallas this could be an option for you, if you were on the northwest side of Dallas you would probably want to look in that area to see what is offered.

Welcome to Texas.

Houston1944, can you tell me more about your range in Terrell? I will be moving to Forney in about a month, and need a good place to shoot.

KevinC wrote:
I'm moving from New Jersey but started shooting in Idaho. We would just go out of the city limits and pull off the road far enough. Later I lived in Washington state and would go shooting on National Forest land, where it is perfectly legal.

Thanks, Kevin

When I lived in Idaho I would drive up a dirt road into the mountains. Hop out of the car and start shooting on one side of the road and then get the fishing pole out and start fishing in the creek on the other side of the road, I loved it. The Mrs. hated it. Back to Texas we went. But I'm over it now, been a few years.

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